Wrapping of articles



c. TREDGET 1,999,431

' WRAPPING OF ARTICLES F iled June 12, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V l lApril 39, c TREDGET WRAPPING OF ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12,1934 Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June12, 1934, Serial No. 730,312 In Great Britain June 21, 1933 12 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to the wrapping ofarticles, and to machinery therefor, and refers more particularly towrapping an article or batch of articles in a U shaped wrapper of theblock ended type, the end opposite the block end being closed by meansof end folds.

It'is an object of the invention to provide a method of closing andsealing the open end of a block ended wrapper consisting of the steps offorming the narrow end folds of the wrapper and folding the broad endflaps in such a manner that they extend outwardly from the broad facesof the article, applying adhesive to the out- 15 Wardly extending broadend flaps, folding one of said flaps so that it engages with and adheresto the narrow end folds, and folding the remaining broad end flap sothat it engages with and adheres to the previously folded broad flap.

Further, according to the invention, there is provided an apparatus forclosing and sealing the open end of a block ended wrapper whereinarticles wrapped in open ended wrappers are delivered in succession to arotatable drum and wherein means are provided to open the broad endflaps against the periphery of the drum, to apply adhesive to saidopened flaps, to fold inwardly the narrow end flaps and to fold thebroad end flaps to close and secure the wrapper.

30 The invention will be more particularly de: scribed with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance withthe invention.

35 Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan of part of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line A A,

40 Figure 1.

'Figure 6 shows a detail of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a detail of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view showing a packet in the drum. 45 Like referencesrefer to like parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the articles B being wrapped are carriedalong the bed I of the machine by any suitable means, such for example,as a continuous conveyor 2 having a series of pusher pieces 3, and thewrapper is placed about the article so that it forms a U shape about theleading end of the article or batch of articles being wrapped. The sidefolds of the wrapper are made in any suitable manner (not shown) and the55! partly wrapped article with the wrapper open at the end opposite tothe block end is then inserted into a rotatable drum 4 provided on itsperiphery with a series of pockets 5. The pusher piece 3 which has beenmoving the partly wrapped article up to this stage is then trippedbackwardly 5 out of engagement with the end of the article in order thatthe first closing operation may be performed upon the open end of thewrapper.

When the pusher piece has been removed from the open end of the wrapper,a pair of reciprocat- 10 ing folders 6, operated by cams 1 and springs 8and 9, is arranged to move across the open end of the wrapper andsimultaneously form the narrow end folds in at the end of the wrapper,and open out the upper remaining portion of the wrapper forming thebroad end flap II, in such a manner that it assumes a positionsubstantially at right angles to the upper broad face of the articlebeing wrapped and is caused to rest upon the surface of the drum 4 asshown in Figure 7 while the other broad end flap is formed and remainsin a substantially horizontal position as shown in Figure 3. The folders6 are operated so that on their return movement they move in a straightline. If desired, the drum may be provided with heating elements (notshown) arranged to dry the adhesive securing the side folds of thewrapper, which were formed before the articles were inserted into thedrum.

The drum which is preferably given an inter- 3O mittent movement, thenmoves a further stage, the upper broad end flap l being retained in theopened position by a plate l2 which partly shrouds the drum 4 and alsofolds the horizontally disposed lower broad end nap H against thesurface of the drum.

Above the bed I of the machine or in another suitable position there isprovided an adhesive applying apparatus l3 having a wheel M which isarranged to apply lines of adhesive Ila to the opened flaps l0 and H ofthe packet (see Figure 8). The wheel [4 is formed with segmentalportions l5 which project through an opening I6 in the shroud l2andapply lines of adhesive to the flaps H.

The drum is now moved to a position where the broad end flaps H arefolded down in order finally to secure the wrapper. Before these flapscan be folded down, the side flaps I ll which have sprung upwardly whenpassing the opening I6 and out of the control of spring guides H6 haveto be again folded. To refold these flaps a pair of folders ll operatedby cams l8 and levers l9 move over the packet and hold the flaps It] inposition. A reciprocating folder 2B which moves in a path concentricwith the face of the drum and is operated by a cam 2i and levers 22 and23, is arranged by means of a fixed cam I23 to engage the underside ofthe lowermost broad end flap H and folds it so that it engages with andadheres to the narrow side folds is, the folders I! being moved away asthe broad flap approaches. The drum 4 is then moved a further stage andduring its movement it passes beneath a fixed folder, for example, aplate, or as shown in the drawings, a brush 2d which is arranged to foldthe remaining broad end flap ll downwardly so that it engages with andadheres to the previously folded broad end flap. The completely wrappedpackage B is now removed from the drum by means of a plunger 25 andinserted into stacker 26 by a further plunger 2? operated by a cam 28,levers 29, 38 and spring 3!. The stacker may be provided with means, forexample, heaters, not shown, to dry the adhesive securing the wrappers.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers comprising in combination, a conveyor having pockets toreceive articles in open ended wrappers, means to insert the articlesinto said pockets, means to form the narrow end folds of the wrapper atthe open end thereof, means operable to fold the broad end flapsoutwardly away from the open end of the wrapper and against a support,means to supply adhesive to at least one broad end flap and the narrowend folds, means reciprocable across the path of the article to retainthe side folds in position, means movable above the path of thearticle and operable to follow the same to close one broad end flap,means in the path of the article to close the remaining broad end flap,and means to eject the wrapped article from the conveyor.

2. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, anelement toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements toformthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and foldone broad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, astationary shroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly theother broad end flap against said periphery, said broad end flaps beingheld in the opened position by said shroud until adhesive has beenapplied to the end of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to onebroad end flap and the two narrow end folds, elements reciprocabletransversely of the direction of movement of the wheel to engage thenarrow side folds, an element movable above the wheel and in pathsubstantially concentric therewith to fold one broad end flap onto theend of the article, and a stationary element in the path of saidarticles tofold the remaining broad end flap into engagement with saidother flap to close the wrapper.

3. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in' combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the'pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly againstv the periphery of the'wheel,

a stationary shroud concentric with said wheel to, fold downwardly theother broad end flap against said periphery, said broad end flaps beingheld in the opened position by said shroud until adhesive has beenapplied to the end of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to onebroad end flap and the two narrow end folds, elements reciprocabletransversely of the direction of movement of the wheel to engage thenarrow side folds, an element movable above the'wheel and in pathsubstantially concentric therewith, said controlled by a cam operativeto insert the element beneath one broad end flap whereby the movementsof the element cause one broad end flap to be folded onto the end of thearticle, and a stationary element in the path of said articles to foldthe remaining broad end flap into engagement with said other flap toclose the wrapper.

4. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended Wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a stationaryshroud concentric with said Wheel to fold downwardly the other broad endflap against said pephery, said broad flaps being held in the openedposition by said shroud until adhesive has been applied to the end ofthe wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to one broad end flap and thetwo narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection of movement of the Wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith to fold one broad end 'fiap onto the end of the article, and aflexible element in the path of said. articles to fold the remainingbroad end flap into engagement with said other flap to close thewrapper.

5. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockendedwrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapperat the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a stationaryshroud concentric with said wheel. to fold downwardly the other broadend flap against said periphery, said broad end flaps being held in theopened position by said shroud until adhesive has been applied to theend of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to: one broad end flapand the two narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection ofmovement of the wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith, said element being pivotally carried by a leverand controlledby a cam operative to insert the element beneath one broad. endfiapwhereby the movements of the element cause one broad end flap to befolded onto the end of the article, and a flexible element in the pathof said articles to fold the remaining broad end flap. into engagementwith said other flap to.close the wrapper.

6. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for. clos ing the open ends ofblock ended wrappers, come prising in combination, a rotatable conveyorwheel having pockets to receive'articles in open ended wrappers, anelement to insert the articles into the pockets, a pair of foldingelements to form the narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open endthereof and fold one broad end flap upwardly against the periphery ofthe wheel, a stationary shroud concentric with said wheel to folddownwardly the other broad end flap against said periphery, said broadend flaps being held in the opened position by said shroud untiladhesive has been applied to the end of the wrapper, a member to applyadhesive to one broad end flap and the two narrow end folds, elementsreciprocable transversely of the direction of movement of the wheel toengage the narrow side folds, an element movable above the wheel and inpath substantially concentric therewith to fold one broad end fiap on tothe end of the article, a stationary element in the path of saidarticles to fold the remaining broad end ilap into engagement with saidother flap to close the wrapper, and an element operative transverselyofthe direction of movement of the wheel to eject the completely wrappedarticles therefrom.

'7. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of t 1e wheel, astationary shroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly theother broad end flap against said periphery, said broad end flaps beingheld in the opened position by said shroud until adhesive has beenapplied to the end of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to onebroad end flapand the two narrow end folds, elements reciprocabletransversely of the direction of movement of the wheel to engage thenarrow side folds, an element movable above the wheel and in pathsubstantially concentric therewith, said element being pivotally carriedby a lever and controlled by a cam operative to insert the elementbeneath one broad end flap whereby the movements of the element causeone broad end flap to be folded onto the end of the article, astationary element in the path of said articles to fold the remainingbroad end flap into engagement with said other flap to close thewrapper, and an element operative transversely of the direction ofmovement of the wheel to eject the completely wrapped articlestherefrom.

8. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a stationaryshroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly the other broad endflap against said periphery, said broad flaps being held in the openedposition by said shroud until adhesive has been applied to the end ofthe wrap-per, a member to apply adhesive to one broad end flap and thetwo narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection of movement of the wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith to fold one broad end iiapl onto the end of the article, aflexible element in the path of said articles to fold the remainingbroad end flap into engagement with said other flap to close thewrapper, and i an element operative transversely of the direction ofmovement of the wheel to eject the completely wrapped articlestherefrom.

9. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a stationaryshroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly the other broad endilap against said periphery, said broad end flaps being held intheopened position by said shroud until adhesive has been applied to theend of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to one broad end flap andthe two narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection of movement of the wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith, said element being pivotally carried by a lever andcontrolled by a cam operative to insert the element beneath one broadend flap to be folded onto the end of the article, a flexible element inthe path of said articles to fold the remaining broad end flap intoengagement with said other flap to close the wrapper, and an elementoperative transversely of the direction of movement of the wheel toeject the completely wrapped articles therefrom.

10. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a stationaryshroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly the other broad endflap against said periphery, said broad end flaps being held in theopened position by said shroud until adhesive has been applied to theend of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to one broad end flap andthe two narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection of movement of the wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith to fold one broad end flaponto the end of the article, astationary element in the path of said articles to fold the remainingbroad end flap into engagement with said other flap to close thewrapper, an element operative transversely of the direction of movementof the wheel to eject the completely wrapped articles therefrom onto aplatform, and an element operative to insert said wrapped articles intoa stacker.

11. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended wrappers, comprising in combination, a' rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a

stationary shroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly theother broad end flap against said periphery, said broad flaps being heldin the opened position by said shroud until adhesive has been applied tothe end of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to one broad end flapand the two narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection of movement of the wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith to fold one broad end flap onto the end of the article, aflexible element in the path of said articles to fold the remainingbroad end flap into engagement with said other flap to close thewrapper, an element operative transversely of the direction or" movementof the wheel to eject the completely wrapped articles therefrom onto aplatform, and an element operative to insert said wrapped articles intoa stacker.

12. For a wrapping machine, apparatus for closing the open ends of blockended Wrappers, comprising in combination, a rotatable conveyor wheelhaving pockets to receive articles in open ended wrappers, an element toinsert the articles into the pockets, a pair of folding elements to formthe narrow end folds of the wrapper at the open end thereof and fold onebroad end flap upwardly against the periphery of the wheel, a stationaryshroud concentric with said wheel to fold downwardly the other broad endflap against said periphery, said broad end flaps being held in the 7opened position by said shroud until adhesive has been applied to theend of the wrapper, a member to apply adhesive to one broad end flap andthe two narrow end folds, elements reciprocable transversely of thedirection of movement of the wheel to engage the narrow side folds, anelement movable above the wheel and in path substantially concentrictherewith, said element being pivotally carried by a lever andcontrolled by a cam operative to insert the element beneath one broadend flap whereby the movements of the element cause one broad end flapto be folded onto the end of the article, a flexible element in the pathof said articles to fold the remaining broad end flap into engagementwith said other flap to close the wrapper, an element operativetransversely of the direction of movement of the wheel to eject thecompletely wrapped articles,

therefrom onto a platform, and an element operative to insert saidwrapped articles into a stacker.

CYRIL TREDGET.

